We’ve been working in Kenya for four years now, having constructed greenhouses, trained caretakers in first aid, set up chicken coops, and even gave clean water access to hundreds of children. One thing we’ve realized through working closely with our partner homes and their communities, is the importance of implementing projects that are income-generating. Why? Well, because most children’s homes are sorely underfunded and need sustainable ways to generate income, in order to continually to give the best care possible to children.

Enter our latest project: water purification. Through our water purification project, we’ll be able to hire more caretakers for children who desperately need them. We’ve teamed up with the Welcome to the Family Home, which is located in Nakuru, Kenya. It’s the home to 44 children, many of whom have suffered from sexual abuse or from living on the streets.

So how does purifying water bring about change for these children? The home already has its own borehole, which has been tested for safety and quality already. So, with the purchase of a reverse osmosis water treatment plant, the water can then be bottled and sold. The home is situated in a middle-class community where there is a market for bottled water and there are also a lot of conferences that come through, also needing water. They’ll be selling the water in reusable containers, to keep the project eco-friendly, and the sales have a project income of $25,200 for the home. With this income, the home will be able to pay for 8 additional caregivers, which is especially important given the traumatic background that some of these children have lived through. And the home will also be able to hire a social worker, which will help these children be integrated back into the community. To be a part of this project and help initiate change, please click here.

Kitechild’s co-founder, Jacqueline Herrera, will be going to Kenya in just a couple of weeks. She’ll be visiting the reverse osmosis plant, as well as checking-in with our projects, such as our greenhouses. So make sure to stay tuned to watch Jacqueline live in Kenya!

The six greenhouses at the Fiwagoh Home in Nakuru, Kenya are a success! The home is currently saving over $10,000 in their annual food costs thanks to the fruits and veggies that are growing in the greenhouses. Those savings go directly to making life better for the kids at the home and pay for additional caretakers, which they need and deserve!

Here’s an uplifting #tbt for you! We loved visiting our friends at the Hogar de Amor Home in Honduras a few years ago. The kids that live at the home are just like kids everywhere- they love to play, laugh and enjoy life with their friends. We’ve since continued to work with them with our aquaponics project, which has helped improve their nutrition and saved the home money, which is invested back in the kids! #tbt #throwback #honduras #children #kids #smile #uplifting #laughter #play #jumprope #skills #joy #fullheart #bepresent #livejoyfully #happiness #presence #jumpforjoy #aquaponics

During this current #refugeecrisis, children entering Europe are being separated from their families and forced to continue their dangerous journey alone. The UN is calling to protect these vulnerable children and demanding that they be treated with dignity. Read more about these unfolding events: http://goo.gl/IVrulW

Take a look at these stunning photos taken by refugee children living in Lebanon: http://goo.gl/hHW8lr Through a project that provided the kids with disposable cameras, we are able to catch a glimpse of what everyday life is like for these children. Over 600,000 refugee children live in Lebanon, most of whom are unable to go to school and are without access to proper shelter and clean water. Seeing the world through their eyes is remarkable and heart-breaking.

Did you know that Monday is the UN International Day of Peace? It’s a day observed every September 21st and this year’s theme is something that we’re really excited about: Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All. We believe every person and every child deserves to live a life of dignity and we want to do everything we can to make this a reality. Are you willing to take the #PeaceDayChallenge and do just one thing for peace on Monday? Find out how every person can make a difference: bit.ly/1LOKeCb

A happy #tbt with our friends from Kenya! We visited the Watoto Wema home in 2012 and can’t wait to go back! It’s amazing what’s happened in 3 years: a greenhouse, a chicken farm and a clean water project. We’ve been grateful to work with this home and the 57 children who live there. Together, this partnership has improved the health, nutrition and wellbeing of these children and we know it’ll only keep getting better!

Here’s a #tbt with our studious friend at the Alice in Wonderland Home in Faridabad, India. As the years go by, things change but one thing that always remains constant is the importance of literacy, especially among vulnerable children. Children who read, succeed!

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. #realtalk

Remember to see the good! Despite what’s happening, there is always love to be found and that is worth giving thanks for. There is too much that is wonderful about the world to be brought down. We’ve seen this first hand when we’ve gone into the field to work with vulnerable children. No matter the situation, we always found hope in the children’s eyes and love in their hearts.

Categories

Kitechild operates in developing countries under a sustainable empowerment model, partnering with communities and families in order to empower at-risk children and enable them to thrive. Funding and donor support is channeled directly into distinct projects that can include greenhouses, farms, renewable energy and similar efforts that encourage self-sufficiency and enrich the community at large. We meet our goal of helping each at-risk child reach his/her full potential and lead a dignified life, by providing access to education, quality nutrition, social support, and re-integration with family when possible.